Mumbai woke up to its first major pre-monsoon spell of the season as heavy rains lashed several parts of the city, triggering waterlogging and massive traffic disruptions. Areas including Andheri, Bandra, Khar, Malad, Goregaon, Juhu, Versova and Vakola witnessed intense rainfall, while key stretches of the Western Express Highway and the Andheri subway faced severe disruptions. The IMD has issued a yellow alert and forecast more rain, thunderstorms and gusty winds in the coming days. With the southwest monsoon expected to advance soon, Mumbai may be heading into a wet and challenging week ahead.

Mumbai witnessed major disruption on Friday as Manoj Jarange’s Maratha quota protest reached the city. Thousands of protesters gathered near Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus (CSMT), leading to massive traffic jams in South Mumbai. Several buses and vehicles were stuck for hours during the morning rush. The protest also spilled over to the railways, with local trains on the Harbour and Central lines overcrowded as protesters and office-goers rushed towards CSMT. Platforms were jam-packed, causing significant inconvenience for daily commuters heading towards Nariman Point, Fort, Kalbadevi, and Crawford Market.